Squirrel Arrows

[Kegan]

I'm working on some arrows for bushy tails this fall, making them pretty simple and cheap, assuming I will be losing more than a few into the trees after those jumpy devils . Thing is, I don't know what point to use! I don't want to use feild point because I WILL be losing some arrows, but I don't know if old 30-30 spent casings will work. They're tough little buggers, will a blunt work on 'em?

[Agbowyer]

Blunts work great on them and bounce of limbs. i used  .38 casings that did well. You can even drill holes and put pieces of heavy guage wire through them to keep from over penetrating. I think I got that from an old PA article.l

[sonny]

or you could make some nutters, simply explained as the proper sized hex nut screwed on the point end of a tapered wooden arrow shaft. seems to me that a very little bit of epoxy might help hold 'em in place but probably ain't completely necessary.
I'm hoping to get a few nutters made myself before too long........ 

[Pat B]

Nutters are devistating on squirrels and cheap and easy to make. I put a little super glue around the nut and saturate the point of the shaft.  You won't find anything cheaper and they really do the job. I like to use a single spiraled fluflu for fletching also. Bright colors will help you find the arrow after the shot.      Pat

[DBernier]

I have used .38 shell casings held on with CA. I used #7 lead shot to bring the weight up a bit. Weigh the arrow,tip and shot all at the same time to get to your desired weight. The nuts option, as Pat said, is devastating on them. I use a double flu flu but a single will work just as good. Mine are dyed international orange and it "does" help finding them, even when they are still in the tree. Good luck.

Dick Bernier

[Kegan]

As it stands the arrows will be: 3/8" dowels cut to 30" with 2 full length heavy spiral crow feathers with reinforced selfnocks and 30-30 blunts (I save his old casings after each time he shoots, I have enough for YEARS )

[mullet]

  38 casing works good.I knock the primer out and insert a nail.Then cut it off at about a half inch.

[Coo-wah-chobee]

    Do same as Eddie except I put a 2 sided wood screw into the primer pocket-sticks out about 1/2". Sometimes I put a flat washer on end..................bob

[Justin Snyder]

Mullet, Man have I got to make some of these for pot-guts. (ground squirels)  Justin

[Stonedog]

I use 5/16ths ramin dowels....I take ye old spine tester to lowes...and test away....yeah you get some funny looks, but who cares!

I then gat a big bag of use .30 carbine brass and knock out the old primer.  I glue it on with hot melt as usual.

I then cut a slot into the top of the casing for a blade.....You can use either a bear bleeder blade (which can get pricey)....or do what I do and use banding steel.

With banding steel....I insert it far enough so it looks like a bear bleeder blade is being used....I glue it in place with 5 min epoxy.  I then drill a small hole thru the brass, shaft and inserted blade....insert a small brad....peen over each side!  Voila!  Flies great and totaly devastating!  Cutting and blunt force trauma.....

[Justin Snyder]

I'm starting to think that metal banding is like the bowyers duct tape.  Justin

[Stonedog]

Man....its cheap....sharpens well....is tough...and hell on small game!

[jamie]

stonedog i would drop dead laughing if i saw somebody spine testing dowels at the hardware store.. lol. ive been pretty successfull with wood blunts . when carving out the shaft i just leave a bulb on the end of the shaft. its some work though. peace

[Stonedog]

J.

Believe me....I do get a look or 50.....but..there is that one person that comes up to me and asks what I am doing.....and I explain it....and 50% of those....get really excited.....or at least intrigued...and then there are those that just dont believe that it can be done....you can see the disbelief on their faces. 

Wooden blunt?  Man I bet they do look plenty tuff!  But I am all for economy!

With my feathers and the whole bit....I have about .90$ invested in each arrow.....about at disposable as I can make them.

Did I mention that they flat out drill an eastern grey?  Ever seen a red fox squirrel?  We got 'em HUGE here in KY and they can absorb a huge amount of energy!

[onemississipp]

Those are all great ideas!!!

Thanks guys